Health benefits of breastfeeding your baby

August
is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and the staff at GPWH are excited to
share some of the ways that breastfeeding is beneficial for you, your baby,
your wallet, and even the earth!

Breastfeeding
is good for you!The health benefits of
breastfeeding your baby have been proven time and again and include weight loss
or easier weight management (it can burn up to 500 calories per day!), reduced
risk of post-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer, delayed menstruation,
stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis, and more.The surge of hormones caused by breastfeeding
can also help with post-natal recovery, and can help fight or reduce the risk
of post-partum depression.

It’s
great for your baby!Breastfeeding
reduces the risk of colds, viruses, and pneumonia in babies, and can have
long-term health benefits as well, including a reduced risk of type 1 diabetes,
and digestive disorders Crohn’s disease and Celiac’s disease.It also reduces the SIDS risk by half,
reduces the risk of childhood obesity, and can help increase the bond with
mom.Breastmilk is customized to your
baby, and what he or she needs every moment, it is constantly changing to meet
the exact needs your baby has every day.

It’s
great for your budget and the earth!Breastfeeding is free, whereas formula can cost several hundred dollars
per month, so breastfeeding can help offset the economic costs of raising a
baby.It’s good for the earth too, there
is no packaging to throw away!